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As part of Northern Michigan University's Visiting Writers Program, poet Jericho Brown will give a free presentation at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17m in Jamrich 1100. Brown's first book, Please, won the American Book Award. His sophomore release, The New Testament, won the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award and was named one of the best of the year by Library Journal, Coldfront and the Academy of American Poets.

Northern Michigan University English professor and author James McCommons will present “George Shiras III vs. the Nature Fakers” at the next NMU Science on Tap event. McCommons' talk, which relates to his new book titled Camera Hunter: George Shiras III and the Birth of Wildlife Photography, will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, at the Ore Dock Brewing Co. Admission is free.

Northern Michigan University has received nearly $135,000 from the state's Native American Heritage Fund to expand Anishinaabe language course offerings at undergraduate and graduate levels.

Jamrich Hall's main lobby was filled with 1,100 backpacks on Monday, to represent the approximate number of undergraduate students in the country who commit suicide each year. The NMU chapter of Active Minds, a national mental health advocacy organization, brought a touring exhibit titled "Send Silence Packing" to campus. Students who paused to reflect on the display said it was a powerful way to raise awareness.

As the next step in maintaining institutional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission, members of the NMU community will be asked over the current academic year to provide input and evidence demonstrating that Northern continues to meet accreditation standards. 

Passion doesn't require a back-up plan or have an expiration date, and it is especially powerful when used in the service of making a difference. Internationally recognized sculpture artist Kristine Poole shared those insights upon receiving her NMU Distinguished Alumni Award, and also contributed a piece of work to the DeVos Art Museum's permanent collection.

Joseph Evans of Marquette described how he made the journey from “undistinguished freshman” to a successful 34-year career in the domestic and international defense markets when he recently accepted his Distinguished Alumni Award from Northern Michigan University. He has worked with industry and government officials throughout Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and Asia.

Water, sanitation and hygiene may not be captivating topics for conversation around the dinner table, but they are serious concerns in many parts of the world, including the United States. NMU alumna Nicole “Niki” Weber of Washington, D.C. has committed her career to addressing these issues through humanitarian service and education. 

Tom Fish said a realtor once told him “there's a buyer for every house.” Those words resonated with the 1969 Northern Michigan University graduate throughout his personal life and lengthy career working with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

Northern Michigan University alumnus Jon Mommaerts of Marquette said “it was outside of the classroom where I learned everything that made me who I am today.” It seems an appropriate sentiment from someone who has enhanced the area's outdoor silent sports culture by helping to establish a renowned trail network and world-class skiing and biking events.